The GRE Template You Never Knew You Needed

Issue Essay Format:

• Introduction

  • Give a broad overview of the issue

  • State your position

  • Highlight the main points of your essay

  • State your thesis (why are you writing this essay?)

  • Closing statement

• Body 1

  • Opening statement for your first point 

  • Give first example (scholarly, personal, professional, etc.)

  • Explain your first example 

  • Relate example and make it relevant to the thesis

  • Closing statement  

• Body 2

  • Opening statement for your second point

  • Give second example (scholarly, personal, professional,etc.)

    • Tip: make sure that both examples are different, it’ll serve to strengthen your argument

  • Explain your second example

  • Relate example and make it relevant to the thesis

  • Closing statement 

• Body 3 

  • Counter argument opening statement

  • Give an example of how someone could oppose your argument

  • Explain why it could be correct

  • Refute the argument and explain why there’s no way that it could possibly work

  • Closing statement 

• Conclusion

  • Restate the main prompt/issue

  • Go on to restate your examples and why they support your opinion on the issue

  • Refute your counter argument 

  • Restate your thesis

  • Closing statement

Argument Essay Format:

• Introduction 

• Body 1

  • Opening statement

  • Explain what makes the prompt weak in nature 

    • What are they not taking into account?

    • Make sure you point out at least two weaknesses within the argument

    • Closing statement

• Body 2

  • Opening statement

  • Elaborate on the first weakness that you stated 

  • Explain exactly what makes it weak

  • Relate this point to the main argument

  • Closing statement

• Body 3

  • Opening statement 

  • Elaborate on second weakness that you stated

  • Explain exactly what makes it weak

  • Relate this point to the main argument

  • Closing statement

• Body 4

  • Opening statement

  • Go into depth about how this prompt and argument could be improved 

  • Explain how they can fix the problems explained in your second and third body paragraphs

  • Closing statement 

• Conclusion 

  • Opening statement

  • Restate the weaknesses, point out how they can be improved

  • Restate what was already strong about your argument

  • Closing statement that reiterates your opinion of the prompt